In your experience, are there any huge differences in using either UPS, USPS, or FedEx for shipping and receiving in America?
August 19, 2025
I think these are the three very popular options in America. But for Americans, are there any reasons to prefer one or the other of these three for sending and receiving mails and packages? Is one particularly suited for certain types of shipping?
30 comments
USPS is often the cheapest, but also the least reliable as far as guaranteed delivery date. Between UPS and FedEX, most people compare the price and go with the cheaper one. Companies that do a lot of shipping sometimes have a contract with one or the other that gets them a discounted rate
FedEx is best for business use in my experience – or cold-shipped medications. UPS is good for personal packages. USPS is my least preferred due to them losing my packages too many times.
For me, it’s UPS>USPS>FedEx. FedEx routinely leaves packages at the wrong houses around here for some reason.
From being a regular reader of some regional subs, I get the impression that the reliability varies from place to place. I’ve had good experiences with UPS and USPS delivering to me, and worse for FedEx. But I’ve seen reports from other people with different results.
So I think there are differences, but nothing consistent between different delivery areas.
USPS loses and breaks things. Fed ex will lie and say they tried to deliver.
Ups is the most expensive? It think. But given the least problems
UPS drivers are union workers and FedEx aren’t for the private options. So basically do you want your package shipped with care, or do you want it fast? If you don’t care about either, just use USPS and save some money.
USPS is a total shitshow.
I don’t know why but I never even think to send packages through USPS…all I do is mail with them. I don’t have strong feelings either way on UPS or FedEx, but I use UPS because the location is convenient to my house and nothing more.
UPS steals, fedex plays basketball with your package and USPS takes forever.
UPS for ground packages, FedEx for overnights, and USPS for stuff that I don’t care about getting there any time soon.
USPS serves pretty much everywhere and is often the cheapest.
UPS is IMO better.
FedEx is much hit/miss
DHL is the absolute worst.
UPS – expensive but will get the job done the best and with the most care. (I’m biased bc my dad worked for UPS for 25 years)
FedEx – good on the commercial end, not good if you aren’t a business
USPS – only use if cost is the main factor
FedEx “loses” my package literally every time I order anything good/nice/useful. Sometimes they even mark things delivered, but they haven’t even been processed at the local sorting facility yet, and then they end up getting delivered by FedEx a week later. (And yes, I’ve called the warehouse to complain about that and the only explanation I got was “sometimes our drivers do that. Your package will get there within a few days.” Wtf?) But when they’re delivering medical supplies that can only be used by me, they are able to deliver it perfectly.
UPS delivers reliably and with my package intact, but they don’t tell you where they left your package. It becomes a scavenger hunt to find my package.
USPS delivers more reliably than FedEx, but the package may arrive a bit mangled. It’s also more affordable than the other two, usually.
If given the choice, for most things I would do USPS, then UPS, but FedEx only as a last resort. If it was something particularly fragile or valuable, I would do UPS, then USPS, and I would have to be desperate to use FedEx.
UPS is my preferred option. I have had minimal issues with USPS, they’re just considerably slower than the other options. I really have had bad experiences with FedEx. Anytime something requires a signature, the driver lies and says they attempted delivery. So I end up having to route it to a FedEx office to pick up.
This is super niche, but I live in a condo building without any sort of lobby or doorman. The USPS workers have a key to get into the building to drop off packages (Amazon does too, but that wasn’t mentioned in the question) but FedEx and UPS don’t.
So for that reason only, I prefer USPS. They can drop off packages securely in the entryway of my building without me being home.
They are generally less reliable, but it’s a bit of a trade off.
If I need to ship something I see whichever is the cheapest
USPS is usually the cheapest unless it’s an oversized package. Things are tracked and reliably delivered.
FedEx is great for smaller things that must arrive asap, in particular when you have a business account that provides discounted rates.
UPS is for larger items or if you’re returning something that has a return label.
There’s some great memes about the three options and how they actually deliver the packages or how well tracking works. Not universal truth but funny.
USPS is for people who like to gamble. Will it get there? Will it go to the right house? Will it be broken? It’s anyone’s guess!
USPS is different now than it was 10 years ago.
I am involved in a antiques businesses where it is about 100% through the mail. Postal service took a big dive and everyone has noticed it and a bit outraged.
I buy a lot of delivered things but do not generally get a choice in how it is shipped. I also fun a webstore, so that give s me some data. It really depends. USPS has terrible tracking and loses packages a lot. UPS is dependable, but getting very expensive. FedEx is less expensive, excellent tracking, and better pricing, so that is what our customers choose 9 times out of 10. DHL is better from small packages coming from Europe to the USA, not sure about other starting points, but it is super fast.
UPS is my go to.
USPS is the cheapest but has the worst service – to be expected since it’s the government
FedEx is the best, but also the most expensive
UPS is the mid tier option
A lot depends on where you live and how the regional office handles things, so people might have different preferences.
USPS is the the only one authorized to carry letters, the others technically can through an “urgency” loophole that makes it too expensive. They have some other options like cheap mailing for books, music, movie discs; fixed-rate packages of fixed sizes. I suppose if someone steals or tampers with your packages, USPS has a bigger hammer to hit them with as it’s a federal crime.
The other two are interchangeable. For me tracking information is the big difference, UPS is the best, FedEx is ok, and USPS is not good.
I live in a building with a package room. USPS and UPS have no problems delivering stuff to the package room. FedEx is the only one we have issues with. Sometimes it’s fine, but other times they’ll leave stuff in the lobby, random places in the building, and even outside. It’s very strange. Any time I see something it shipped by FedEx, I know I might have to go in search for my package. Once they delivered it to the wrong building.
In MY experience?
USPS – good enough for many uses and usually the cheapest option. I’ve used them a lot and only had one major issue one time but I know experiences may vary
UPS – the gold standard for service quality, but can be expensive
FedEx – for when you feel like being fucked in the ass with a railroad spike, repeatedly, and going out of your way to do it
I live in a rural area, and all have the potential to suck on any given day. It really varies depending on logistics and the labor force.
USPS is the most accommodating for my elderly mother.
UPS is the most reliable with all the USPS issues due to the reorganizations and cutbacks.
Fed Ex Ground is very hit and miss depending on the delivery area.
Fed Ex Ground uses contractors and some are not as concerned about making their deliveries with care.
I am lucky that all three are pretty good in my area but if USPS goes thru other areas there is more risk.
FEDEX Ground and Express are two totally different companies.
I think it depends on your local carriers. I’ve had horrible experiences with Fed EX and they won’t reimburse anything. UPS is pretty dependable and I have a wonderful USPS guy who has given me his # to text him when I had a missing letter once. He wouldn’t stop until he found it (in a nearby lockbox) – he’s really good and my only issue is with the national system that sends packages on trips they don’t need to take, sometimes multiple times before it gets to you.
UPS is the best. Fed-ex is sub par, and I’d only use USPS if you forced me to at gunpoint.
30 comments
USPS is often the cheapest, but also the least reliable as far as guaranteed delivery date. Between UPS and FedEX, most people compare the price and go with the cheaper one. Companies that do a lot of shipping sometimes have a contract with one or the other that gets them a discounted rate
FedEx is best for business use in my experience – or cold-shipped medications. UPS is good for personal packages. USPS is my least preferred due to them losing my packages too many times.
For me, it’s UPS>USPS>FedEx. FedEx routinely leaves packages at the wrong houses around here for some reason.
From being a regular reader of some regional subs, I get the impression that the reliability varies from place to place. I’ve had good experiences with UPS and USPS delivering to me, and worse for FedEx. But I’ve seen reports from other people with different results.
So I think there are differences, but nothing consistent between different delivery areas.
USPS loses and breaks things. Fed ex will lie and say they tried to deliver.
Ups is the most expensive? It think. But given the least problems
UPS drivers are union workers and FedEx aren’t for the private options. So basically do you want your package shipped with care, or do you want it fast? If you don’t care about either, just use USPS and save some money.
USPS is a total shitshow.
I don’t know why but I never even think to send packages through USPS…all I do is mail with them. I don’t have strong feelings either way on UPS or FedEx, but I use UPS because the location is convenient to my house and nothing more.
UPS steals, fedex plays basketball with your package and USPS takes forever.
UPS for ground packages, FedEx for overnights, and USPS for stuff that I don’t care about getting there any time soon.
USPS serves pretty much everywhere and is often the cheapest.
UPS is IMO better.
FedEx is much hit/miss
DHL is the absolute worst.
UPS – expensive but will get the job done the best and with the most care. (I’m biased bc my dad worked for UPS for 25 years)
FedEx – good on the commercial end, not good if you aren’t a business
USPS – only use if cost is the main factor
FedEx “loses” my package literally every time I order anything good/nice/useful. Sometimes they even mark things delivered, but they haven’t even been processed at the local sorting facility yet, and then they end up getting delivered by FedEx a week later. (And yes, I’ve called the warehouse to complain about that and the only explanation I got was “sometimes our drivers do that. Your package will get there within a few days.” Wtf?) But when they’re delivering medical supplies that can only be used by me, they are able to deliver it perfectly.
UPS delivers reliably and with my package intact, but they don’t tell you where they left your package. It becomes a scavenger hunt to find my package.
USPS delivers more reliably than FedEx, but the package may arrive a bit mangled. It’s also more affordable than the other two, usually.
If given the choice, for most things I would do USPS, then UPS, but FedEx only as a last resort. If it was something particularly fragile or valuable, I would do UPS, then USPS, and I would have to be desperate to use FedEx.
UPS is my preferred option. I have had minimal issues with USPS, they’re just considerably slower than the other options. I really have had bad experiences with FedEx. Anytime something requires a signature, the driver lies and says they attempted delivery. So I end up having to route it to a FedEx office to pick up.
This is super niche, but I live in a condo building without any sort of lobby or doorman. The USPS workers have a key to get into the building to drop off packages (Amazon does too, but that wasn’t mentioned in the question) but FedEx and UPS don’t.
So for that reason only, I prefer USPS. They can drop off packages securely in the entryway of my building without me being home.
They are generally less reliable, but it’s a bit of a trade off.
If I need to ship something I see whichever is the cheapest
USPS is usually the cheapest unless it’s an oversized package. Things are tracked and reliably delivered.
FedEx is great for smaller things that must arrive asap, in particular when you have a business account that provides discounted rates.
UPS is for larger items or if you’re returning something that has a return label.
There’s some great memes about the three options and how they actually deliver the packages or how well tracking works. Not universal truth but funny.
USPS is for people who like to gamble. Will it get there? Will it go to the right house? Will it be broken? It’s anyone’s guess!
USPS is different now than it was 10 years ago.
I am involved in a antiques businesses where it is about 100% through the mail. Postal service took a big dive and everyone has noticed it and a bit outraged.
I buy a lot of delivered things but do not generally get a choice in how it is shipped. I also fun a webstore, so that give s me some data. It really depends. USPS has terrible tracking and loses packages a lot. UPS is dependable, but getting very expensive. FedEx is less expensive, excellent tracking, and better pricing, so that is what our customers choose 9 times out of 10. DHL is better from small packages coming from Europe to the USA, not sure about other starting points, but it is super fast.
UPS is my go to.
USPS is the cheapest but has the worst service – to be expected since it’s the government
FedEx is the best, but also the most expensive
UPS is the mid tier option
A lot depends on where you live and how the regional office handles things, so people might have different preferences.
USPS is the the only one authorized to carry letters, the others technically can through an “urgency” loophole that makes it too expensive. They have some other options like cheap mailing for books, music, movie discs; fixed-rate packages of fixed sizes. I suppose if someone steals or tampers with your packages, USPS has a bigger hammer to hit them with as it’s a federal crime.
The other two are interchangeable. For me tracking information is the big difference, UPS is the best, FedEx is ok, and USPS is not good.
I live in a building with a package room. USPS and UPS have no problems delivering stuff to the package room. FedEx is the only one we have issues with. Sometimes it’s fine, but other times they’ll leave stuff in the lobby, random places in the building, and even outside. It’s very strange. Any time I see something it shipped by FedEx, I know I might have to go in search for my package. Once they delivered it to the wrong building.
In MY experience?
USPS – good enough for many uses and usually the cheapest option. I’ve used them a lot and only had one major issue one time but I know experiences may vary
UPS – the gold standard for service quality, but can be expensive
FedEx – for when you feel like being fucked in the ass with a railroad spike, repeatedly, and going out of your way to do it
I live in a rural area, and all have the potential to suck on any given day. It really varies depending on logistics and the labor force.
USPS is the most accommodating for my elderly mother.
UPS is the most reliable with all the USPS issues due to the reorganizations and cutbacks.
Fed Ex Ground is very hit and miss depending on the delivery area.
Fed Ex Ground uses contractors and some are not as concerned about making their deliveries with care.
I am lucky that all three are pretty good in my area but if USPS goes thru other areas there is more risk.
FEDEX Ground and Express are two totally different companies.
I think it depends on your local carriers. I’ve had horrible experiences with Fed EX and they won’t reimburse anything. UPS is pretty dependable and I have a wonderful USPS guy who has given me his # to text him when I had a missing letter once. He wouldn’t stop until he found it (in a nearby lockbox) – he’s really good and my only issue is with the national system that sends packages on trips they don’t need to take, sometimes multiple times before it gets to you.
UPS is the best. Fed-ex is sub par, and I’d only use USPS if you forced me to at gunpoint.